Rail bond



Feb. 2, 1932. A I 1,843,501

RAIL BC JND Filed NOV. 2, 1929 5: r 1? 4. E i V a+| Patented Feb. 2, 1932 ATE CHARLES A. BALDWIN, or RITZVILLE, WASHINGTON RAIL BOND Application filed November 2, 1929. Serial'No. 404,354.

This invention relates to improvements in rail bonds for the purpose of insuring proper electrical contact between or around rail joints and is designed to be used in all track circuits except where propulsion current is used.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved rail bond wherein studs of soft steel oriron are employed which may be readily driven into bores formed in the side of the ball of a track rail, the said studs having secured thereto twisted wire strands which connect them across the joint between adjacent rail ends.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of stud having formed integral therewith a deformable lip which may be readily bent over to secure the ends of a wire thereto.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved rail bond which will be of simple but strong endurable construction and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed de scription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, how- 30 ever, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of they drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claim herein.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a track rail showing the bond embodying the present invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the rail showing the location of the bond, a part of the rail being broken away.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a head View of a stud,

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 1 indicates the balls of ad- 56 jacent ends of railway track rails, the rails being connected in the usual manner by the fish plate 2.

For the application of the present invention to the rail balls each has formed in the side face thereof a suitable bore 3. V

The bond embodying the present invention comprises a pair of studs 4- each of which consists of a head portion 5 preferably of square cross-sectional design, formed upon the enlarged end of a tapered shank 6 of circular cross-sectional design. These studs 4 are preferably formed of soft steel or iron and the heads are slightly-beveled along each edge in the manner shown so that they will not burr over when the studs are driven into the bore of the rail.

Formed integral with each stud adjacent the base of the head and upon one face thereof, is a bifurcated tongue 7.

Connecting the heads of the studs is a pair of copper wires 8 each of which consists of a plurality of strands of relatively fine wire, preferably seven strands each in turn consisting of seven smaller wires. The wires preferred for this purpose are of substantially the same gauge as the wire used for motor brush jumpers or about a No. 11 B. & S. gauge. The ends of the'wires 8 are laid across the face of the stud adjacent the tongue 7 and the tongue is then bent over with a suitable instrument to cover the wire ends in the manner shown.

After connecting the pair of studs by the wires the shanks 6 are driven into the bore of the rails and the wires pressed closely against the rail faces in the manner shown in Figure 2.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that rail bonds of the character herein described may be easily, quickly and economically constructed and may also be readily applied to the track rails, no tool be-.

ing necessary except a heavy hammer or sledge for forcing the shanksinto the bores 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A rail bond comprising a pair of studs of metal each having a head and a tapered shank, the shank being of circular cross-section and the head having side faces disposed in planes extending longitudinally of the stud and a driving face disposed transverse- 1y of the stud, a deformable tongue formed v integral with each head and projecting from one side face in a line transversely of the stud, and a Wire having each end overlying the side face of a stud from which the tongueprojeets and securedthereto by the adjacent bent over tongue. 7 I

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix m signature. H a

CHARLES A. BALDWIN. 

